Ricky Ponting set the chessboard and picked Shreyas Iyer to deliver checkmates for Punjab Kings
Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 03 May 2026, 02:35 PM• Read time - 12 mins
Punjab Kings (PBKS) have been the standout side of IPL 2026, winning six of their first seven fixtures (with one washout) before a six‑wicket defeat to Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Much of the spotlight has naturally fallen on skipper Shreyas Iyer, the “Sarpanch”, for his sharp captaincy and authoritative batting at No. 4. Yet the true architect of Punjab’s transformation is head coach Ricky Ponting, who laid the foundation at the 2025 mega auction and handpicked Iyer to lead.
The overhaul that changed everything
Ponting took charge in September 2024 and immediately wielded the axe. Ahead of the 2025 mega auction, Punjab retained only two uncapped players, Prabhsimran (INR 4 crore) and Shashank Singh (INR 5.50 crore). That was the least retention by any franchise, leaving PBKS with the largest purse: INR 110.5 crore.
Players bought by PBKS at the IPL 2025 mega auction
| Player | Type | Base (Cr) | Sold (Cr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shreyas Iyer | BAT | 2.00 | 26.75 |
| Arshdeep Singh (RTM) | BOWL | 2.00 | 18.00 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | BOWL | 2.00 | 18.00 |
| Marcus Stoinis | AR | 2.00 | 11.00 |
| Marco Jansen | AR | 1.25 | 7.00 |
| Shashank Singh (Retained) | AR | - | 5.50 |
| Nehal Wadhera | BAT | 0.30 | 4.20 |
| Glenn Maxwell | AR | 2.00 | 4.20 |
| Prabhsimran Singh (Retained) | BAT | - | 4.00 |
| Priyansh Arya | AR | 0.30 | 3.80 |
| Josh Inglis | BAT | 2.00 | 2.60 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | AR | 1.50 | 2.40 |
| Lockie Ferguson | BOWL | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Vijaykumar Vyshak | BOWL | 0.30 | 1.80 |
| Yash Thakur | BOWL | 0.40 | 1.60 |
| Harpreet Brar | AR | 0.30 | 1.50 |
| Aaron Hardie | AR | 1.25 | 1.25 |
| Vishnu Vinod | BAT | 0.30 | 0.95 |
| Kuldeep Sen | BOWL | 0.75 | 0.80 |
| Xavier Bartlett | BOWL | 0.75 | 0.80 |
| Suryansh Shedge | AR | 0.30 | 0.30 |
| Pyla Avinash | BAT | 0.30 | 0.30 |
| Musheer Khan | AR | 0.30 | 0.30 |
| Harnoor Singh | BAT | 0.30 | 0.30 |
| Praveen Dubey | AR | 0.30 | 0.30 |
Ponting then rebuilt the squad from scratch, handpicking talents and, most crucially, securing Shreyas Iyer. That move paved the way for Iyer to become captain and the face of Punjab’s resurgence in the IPL.
Ponting's ruthless decision-making
The rebuild paid immediate dividends. PBKS finished the 2025 season as runners‑up, narrowly losing the final to RCB by six runs. Ponting and Iyer then retained 21 players for 2026, ensuring continuity and a strong core.
Glenn Maxwell (INR 4.20 crore) was released after an underwhelming season. Josh Inglis (INR 2.60 crore) was also released once he confirmed he’d miss the first half of 2026 owing to his wedding. Ponting and his think‑tank felt it was wiser to free up funds rather than retain a player who wouldn’t be available throughout.
Masterstrokes at the auction
Ponting reinvested with precision. His keen eye on Australian cricket brought in Cooper Connolly (INR 3 crore) and Ben Dwarshuis (INR 4.40 crore). Connolly has already proven a masterstroke, 270 runs at an average of 45.00 and a strike rate of 168.75, including two fifties and multiple match‑winning knocks. Dwarshuis, though yet unused, is a ready backup for Marco Jansen, adding depth to Punjab’s seam attack.
While Shreyas Iyer rightly earns plaudits for his captaincy and batting, the mastermind behind PBKS’ rise is undeniably Ponting. His ruthless overhaul, auction acumen, and strategic vision have transformed Punjab from perennial underachievers into IPL’s juggernaut.
Ponting built the team, roped in Iyer, and set the tone. The “Sarpanch” may be the face of Punjab’s success, but the engine room powering it all is Ponting’s relentless drive and uncompromising decisions.
